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Abstract:

A shield for a component, such as a weight gauge box, of a tractor
trailer is described. The shield includes a bracket for mounting of a
shield member, such as a heavy rubber mud flap, that mounts the flap
rearward of protectable components and forward of the wheels of the
tractor trailer. The shield limits the likelihood of damage to forward
components by impact from objects thrown by the wheels and also limits
the deposit of road dirt and grime thrown by the wheels.

Claims:

1. A shield for protecting a component attached to a tractor trailer
forwardly of the first rear wheel of the tractor trailer, comprising: (a)
a mounting bracket, mounted forwardly of the foremost rear wheel; (b) a
shield member attached to the mounting bracket; and (c) a structure
mounting the mounting bracket on the tractor trailer forwardly of the
wheel in a position to limit the impact or deposit of road debris or
grime thrown by the wheel toward forwardly mounted components.

2. A shield as defined in claim 1, wherein the shield member hangs below
the mounting bracket.

3. A method of protecting components from road debris, comprising: (a)
providing at least one tire; (b) providing a mud flap assembly further
comprising a mounting bracket for attachment to the underside of vehicle
or trailer, the bracket being attached to a shield member; (c) mounting
the mud flap assembly rearward of the protectable component and forward
of the tire, such that the shield member acts to shield forward
components from road debris sent componantward from the tire.

Description:

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application is a divisional to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/556,949 on Sep. 10, 2009, and claims priority to the
provisional application filed Sep. 10, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to tractor trailers and, more
specifically, to a shield or mud flap for a weight gauge box mounted
forward of wheels of a tractor trailer.

[0003] Weight gauges are in common use on trailers towed by semi-tractors.
Most such trailers are equipped with an air spring suspension system.
Proper use of the air spring system requires adjustment of the pneumatic
pressure systems in response to changes in the weight of the load being
carried by the tractor trailer. The controls for these systems have to be
accessible to operators and are frequently located in a box mounted on
the side of the tractor trailer forward of the rear wheels of the
trailer. To gain access to the controls for needed adjustments to the
system, the operator opens a door on the box, makes the adjustment, and
then closes and secures the door. The rear wheels of the trailer throw
dirt, water, mud and other road debris toward the box as the trailer is
driven down the road so that the box is subject to damage in addition to
be dirty or possible coated in mud that prevents easy access to the
controls by the operator.

[0004] A method is needed to limit the likelihood of damage to the weight
gauge box and to reduce the amount of dirt, mud and other road debris
that is deposited on the weight gauge box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention consists of a shield, preferably in the form
or an elastomeric flap, mounted on a tractor trailer between a weight
gauge box and the wheels of the tractor trailer. The shield limits the
amount of road debris that impacts and may be deposited on the weight
gauge box. While such shields or mud flaps are known for use behind the
wheels of a tractor trailer to limit throwing of road debris onto
trailing or adjacent vehicles, no previous application of such shields
forwardly of the wheels is known.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tractor trailer showing a weight gauge
box mounted on the side of the trailer below the bed and forward of
wheels of the trailer.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 if a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a shield
of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a side view of the shield of FIG. 3 mounted on the
tractor trailer with the flap rearward of the weight gauge box.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing how the shield of the present
invention protects the weight gauge box.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, generally at 10, is a tractor trailer
on which is mounted a weight gauge box 12 in common use to control the
air spring suspension system of the tractor trailer 10. The weight gauge
box 12 is mounted forwardly of the wheels 14 of the tractor trailer 10.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a shield 16 is
constructed of an L-shaped bracket 20, having a flap mounting arm 22 and
a trailer mounting arm 24 (FIG. 3). An elastomeric material, such as a
heavy rubber sheet 18, is attached to the flap mounting arm 22. In the
preferred embodiment, a pair of nut and bolt combinations 26 are used to
attached the sheet 18 to the arm 22, although many other methods of
attachment are known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] The shield 16 is mounted on the trailer 10 between the weight gauge
box 12 and the wheels 14 (FIG. 4). The size and shape of the sheet 18 and
the mounting position of the shield 16 are selected to prevent or limit
road debris or grime thrown up by the wheels 14 from impacting the weight
gauge box 12, thus protecting the weight gauge box and limiting the
amount of dirt and grime deposited on the box 12 (FIG. 5).

[0014] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative
embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments and the
methods described herein may vary based on the ability, experience, and
preference of those skilled in the art. Merely listing the steps of the
method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order
of the steps of the method. The foregoing description and drawings merely
explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited
thereto, except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in
the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make
modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of
the invention.